Whistler provides a massive range of dining, après and nightlife options. We have travelled extensively to ski resorts around the world, and the restaurants in Whistler and the Whistler nightlife are definitely up there in the top 5 (if not #1)!

Restaurants in Whistler

There are an abundance of restaurants in Whistler to choose from. On arrival you’ll find various Whistler dining guides to help you choose a restaurant, or you can just explore and see where your nose leads you.

Whistler is very multi-cultural and this is reflected in the range of international restaurants on offer. There are also plenty of restaurants in Whistler offering traditional North American fare.

Many of the Whistler restaurants are located in Whistler Village. Creekside also has a handful of dining options, as does the Upper Village.

Whistler has its fair share of fine dining options. A highlight is the Rimrock Café and Oyster Bar, located near Creekside. This upscale restaurant specializes in seafood and game.

In the fine dining sphere, there are various Italian restaurants in Whistler. Examples include Umberto’s Trattoria and Umberto’s Il Caminetto that serve Tuscan cuisine. For mid to upper range, Quattro (in the Pinnacle Hotel) has gorgeous contemporary Italian meals. Go here hungry, because you’ll want to order three courses.

For a casual Whistler dining experience, try Caramba Restaurante in North Village. This Italian restaurant serves up a large range of pizzas, pastas, and entrees such as tuna, steak, and salmon. The pizzas and pastas in particular are very reasonably priced.

Whistler Dining – Whistler Village Cheap Eats

Whilst a Whistler currency may be applicable to lift tickets, ski lessons and other activities, at least you know that you can eat in Whistler without having to pay a pretty penny. Whistler has a surprisingly large number of dining options for those on a budget.

One example of a cheap eats restaurant in Whistler is Three Below which is located underground next to the cinema. This restaurant with funky and cosy décor provides inexpensive meals such as burgers, curries, lasagna, chicken parmas and other homely food. It has a good bar scene and it’s also a rather family friendly restaurant.

Even more casual and inexpensive is the BG Urban Café/Grill that offers international food (Italian, Asian, and Greek). The various pubs are also a good option for cheap pub grub, although a couple of the trendy pubs near the gondolas tend to charge a little more.

Whistler also has an abundance of eateries serving pizza, gyros or the like that are predominantly for take-out food but they may have a little eat-in seating as well. There’s a Zog’s Dogs/Beavertail snack shack not far from the gondolas that has some outdoor tables and chairs. They sell chili dogs, burgers, poutine and other fast food. They also sell beaver tails (flat doughnuts) that are way over-priced but it seems a must in Whistler because this is a quintessential Canadian experience.

Whistler Dinner Activities

For something a bit special, consider a fondue dinner where you can live the high life - literally. Canadian Wilderness Adventures (aka Canadian Snowmobile Adventures) provide a special Whistler fondue dinner up at Crystal Hut, a rustic Canadian log cabin on Blackcomb Mountain at 6,000 feet elevation. Getting up there is half the fun and you’ve got the option of travelling in a snowcat or going on a snowmobile tour.

Whistler Bars for Apres

The après-ski festivities kick off in the mid afternoon as the skiers head off the slopes and look for a spot to drink and rehash the stories of the day. The area around the base of the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas has a high concentration of pubs that head up the Whistler après scene and where the dress code is definitely ski boots or snowboard boots. These pubs tend to get packed in the peak après time and they have heated outdoor patios to cater for the spill-over.

Garibaldi Lift Company (GLC) Bar and Grill is a favourite Whistler bar for après, located on top of the Whistler Village gondola building. Across the way is the Longhorn Saloon which is always packed with a young crowd, or for a more relaxed civilized option, try the Blacks pub next door. The Dubh Linn Gate Irish pub is also located in this area, and true to their roots they often have live Irish music. Doing an Irish jig in your ski boots is plenty of fun!

	Longhorn Saloon Bar Whistler Located at the base of Whistler Mountain, the Longhorn Saloon has been the #1 apres spot in town for over 25 years! Great food from the grill, ice cold draught beer & DJs spinning party tunes.

Over at the Blackbomb base, the slopeside Merlin’s tends to draw the crowds. Also at the Blackcomb base area, the Mallard Lounge and Terrace (located in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler) is a relaxed and sophisticated spot for martinis and other après drinks.

If you’re over at Creekside, Dusty’s Bar is a stone’s throw from the Creekside gondola, so it’s a popular spot to go for an après drink.

Whistler Nightlife

The Whistler nightlife is world famous! In summary the Whistler nightlife is incredibly vibrant, and there’s something to suit everyone. In addition to the pubs there are sophisticated cocktail bars, lounge bars, or venues with live bands and DJs.

	Rolands Creekside Pub Whistler Located at Creekside Whistler. Great pub meals plus night time BBQ menu at BBQ Bobs. Kitchen and cold beer and wine store open daily 11am to 11pm daily.

If you’ve got some sophisticated threads to wear, you can head to the Fifty Two 80 Bar, located in the Four Seasons Hotel in the Upper Village. Here you can relax in one of the plush chairs and sip on an upscale cocktail. Many of the other luxury hotels also have sedate bars that are good for a chilled out drink.

When the sun has well and truly gone down, the Whistler nightlife makes a transition from the pubs and lounges to the night clubs. Tommy Africa’s usually has a vibrant dance floor that is helped along by the go-go dancers. Garfinkel’s is an institution with pumping music. Buffalo Bill’s tends to attract a slightly older crowd and the occasional cougar attract has been known to occur on the dance floor!